Alright, so I was watching some UFC fights the other day, and I noticed a bunch of Russian names popping up. It got me thinking, who are these guys, and how did they get here? I decided to do some digging and put together a little list of notable Russian MMA fighters in the UFC.
First, I opened up my browser and started searching for “Russian MMA fighters in UFC.” A ton of articles and lists came up, but I wanted to make my own list based on my personal favorites and some of the big names I recognized.
Next, I started making a list of the fighters I already knew. Of course, Khabib Nurmagomedov was the first name on the list. The guy’s a legend, retired undefeated, and is now coaching other fighters. Then I added Islam Makhachev, who’s also a beast and a close friend of Khabib’s. He’s the current lightweight champion, so he’s definitely someone to watch.
- Khabib Nurmagomedov
- Islam Makhachev
After that, I started browsing through some of the articles I found earlier. I wanted to see if there were any fighters I’d missed or some up-and-comers I should be aware of. I found a few more names that rang a bell, like Petr Yan, the former bantamweight champion. He’s got some serious skills and always puts on a good show. Another name I recognized was Alexander Volkov, a heavyweight fighter who’s been around for a while and has fought some of the best in the division.
- Petr Yan
- Alexander Volkov
I kept adding to my list, trying to find fighters from different weight classes. I discovered Zabit Magomedsharipov, a featherweight with some crazy striking skills. Unfortunately, I also found out he retired recently, which is a bummer. Then I added Magomed Ankalaev, a light heavyweight contender who’s been making waves in his division. He’s definitely one to watch in the future.
- Zabit Magomedsharipov
- Magomed Ankalaev
I spent a good chunk of time reading up on these guys, watching some of their highlight reels, and learning about their fighting styles. It’s pretty cool to see how diverse their backgrounds are and how they’ve all made their mark in the UFC.
My Final List
After all that digging, here’s the list I came up with:
- Khabib Nurmagomedov – Former Lightweight Champion, retired undefeated.
- Islam Makhachev – Current Lightweight Champion.
- Petr Yan – Former Bantamweight Champion.
- Alexander Volkov – Heavyweight contender.
- Zabit Magomedsharipov – Featherweight (retired).
- Magomed Ankalaev – Light Heavyweight contender.
So there you have it, my little deep dive into Russian MMA fighters in the UFC. It was fun learning more about these guys, and it definitely makes me appreciate their skills even more the next time I watch them fight.
Hope you enjoyed this little journey with me. Maybe I’ll do another one of these for fighters from other countries. Let me know what you think!
